Tobacco pipe dryer

ABSTRACT

THE INVENTION RELATES TO A TOBACCO PIPE DRYER COMPRISING A ONE-PIECE STAND HAVING A CYLINDRICAL HEATING DEVICE MOUNTED THEREIN, ONE END PORTION OF THE HEATING DEVICE PROJECTING ABOVE A DISHED UPPER SURFACE OF THE STAND FOR RECEPTION OF A PIPE BOWL AND THE OTHER END PORTION BEING DISPOSED IN A RECESS IN THE STAND WITH MEANS FOR CONNECTING IT TO A SOURCE OF ELECTRIC POWER

United States Patent 3,559,300 TOBACCO PIPE DRYER Lloyd G. Fox, 217 Wilson Road, Welland, Ontario, Canada Filed Feb. 7, 1969, Ser. No. 797,478 Int. Cl. F26b 25/00 US. Cl. 34-104 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention relates to a tobacco pipe dryer comprising a one-piece stand having a cylindrical heating device mounted therein, one end portion of the heating device projecting above a dished upper surface of the stand for reception of a pipe bowl and the other end portion being disposed in a recess in the stand with means for connecting it to a source of electric power.

It has heretofore been proposed to provide means for circulating heated drying air through the bowl and stem of used tobacco pipes for the purpose of removing rank and offensive odors arising therefrom and for freshening the pipe whereby tongue burning is reduced and use of the pipe is rendered more enjoyable. Problems have, however, arisen in providing a pipe dryer of practical value. Obviously, a dryer that is difiicult to use, ineffective in operation, and of unwarranted cost will not find favour with the public. Therefore, it is believed that few, if any, of such devices have gone into public use.

The present invention may be defined as a tobacco pipe dryer which comprises a stand of one-piece unitary structure having a top wall, a side wall, and an interior recess, a cylindrical heating device having one end portion projecting above said top wall and another end portion disposed in said recess, said top wall having a dished upper surface surrounding said heating device, said heating device being axially disposed with respect to said surface, and means for connecting said device to a source of electric power.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional side elevation of a dryer structure in accordance with the invention, and

FIG. 2 is a plan view.

In the drawing, 10 is a stand of one-piece unitary form. Preferably it is formed of molded ceramic material. The stand has a side wall 11, a top wall 12, and an interior cavity or recess 13. As shown, the top wall has a dished outer surface 14 and a peripheral edge portion 15.

Axially and frictionally mounted in top wall 12 is a cylindrical heating element 16. Preferably, the element 16 has a ceramic body. A substantial end portion 16a of the element 16 projects above the surface 14. The other end portion 16b is disposed in the recess 13. The element 16 has a diameter of, say, one-half inch whereby it may fit loosely into the bowl 17 of a smoking pipe indicated at 18.

The element 16 has a pair of electrical connections 19 to which are coupled at 20, connections 21 to an electrical power source. Connections 21 extend through an opening 22 in the side wall 11.

The stand has a bottom opening 23 freely exposing the interior of recess 13 and the electrical connections therein.

Claims.

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The diameter of the heating element 16 is many times less than that of the edge portion 15 whereby such edge portion may, if desired, provide a support for the pipe stem. Moreover, the surface 14 has a substantial area and is preferably imperforate for reception of any waste material which may be deposited from the pipe bowl.

In use, the bowl of the smoking pipe to be cleaned and freshened is simply placed over the end portion 16a of the heating device (as indicated in FIG. 1) and the device connected to a source of electrical current. The heat generated by the device is of low intensity whereby the pipe bowl may be left thereon, say, for an overnight period of seven to twelve hours. Since the pipe bowl fits loosely thereon there will be generated a flow of heated air upwardly through the bowl and stem of the pipe and thus moisture and other volatiles in the pipe will be evaporated.

Since the device comprises only two main parts, namely, a simple molded stand and a separate heating element frictionally mounted therein, it may be produced in a most inexpensive manner. Use of the dryer will, of course, avoid the need for a smoker having several pipes, which is the common practice of pipe smokers in order to permit periods of drying and freshening of used pipes.

I claim:

1. A tobacco pipe dryer which comprises a stand of one-piece unitary structure having a top wall, a side wall and a recessed bottom wall, a cylindrical heating device having one end portion of major extent projecting above said top wall and another end portion of minor extent disposed in said recessed bottom wall, the entire surface of said major end portion being imperforate for disposition within the bowl of a pipe, said top wall having a dished upper surface surrounding said heating device, said heating device being axially disposed with respect to said surface, and an electrical connection connected to said heating device and extending externally of said stand.

2. A tobacco pipe dryer as defined in claim 1, said heating device comprising a cylindrical ceramic body.

3. A tobacco pipe dryer as defined in claim 2, said stand being of molded ceramic form.

4. A tobacco pipe dryer as defined in claim 1, said top wall having an upper surface of circular contour, said heating device being axially disposed with respect to said surface, said surface having a periphery of a diameter many times greater than that of said heating device.

5. A tobacco pipe dryer as defined in claim 4, said upper surface being otherwise uninterrupted and imperforate.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,639,200 8/1927 Pitts 34104 2,708,796 5/1955 Adamy 34-104 3,387,614 6/1968 Beucher 131-232 3,372,306 3/1968 Koizumi 43 l-253 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,247,876 10/1960 France l3l232 FREDERICK L. MATTESON, Primary Examiner H. B. RAMEY, Assistant Examiner 

